Yoke or shoulder weight-carrier.



R. P. ORR.

YOKE 0R SHOULDER WEIGHT CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1917.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

IN l/Ell TOR Haber) P Orr A TTOR/VEYS T @FFIQE.

ROBERT P. ORB, OF ALBANY, NEW YCRK.

YOKE 0R sHoULnnn'wEreriT-oARRIER.

Application filed November 10, 1917. Serial No. 201,321.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT P. ORR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Yoke or Shoulder Weight-Carrier, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to yokes or weight supporting means for the shoulders of a person and has for an object the provision of an improved construction adapted to fit against the shoulders in such a manner that weights connected therewith will be supported evenly over the entire shoulders.

Another object in view is to provide a yoke having a curved section, a neck opening and a connecting back section, the curves conforming substantially to the back and shoulders.

A further object of the invention is to provide a yoke and attachments whereby bags, packages or containers of any kind may be connected with the yoke in such a manner as to be supported from the lower edge of the yoke, or from the upper part thereof.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a view of a figure with an embodiment of the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the figure shown in Fig. 1 showing arrangement of the rear part of the device applied to the figure.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the yoke shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4; is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of yoke.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a yoke member provided with curved end sections 2 and 3 and a curved connecting section f arranged at the rear, whereby is produced a neck opening 5. Connected to the sections 2 and 3 and substantially centrally thereof are stops or upright members 6 and 7 which may be riveted or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. These stops are designed to engage straps or other supporting members 8 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which straps are connected with the bags 9, or other articles being supported. Connected to the yoke 1 are a plurality of suspending members 10 formed of any desired material, as for instance, chains, cables, straps, or the like, while at the front the chain 11 is connected with the ring members 12 and 13 and extends across the neck opening 5 and from thence downwardly under the arms to the various suspending members 10, to which they are connected in any suitable manner. Preferably the chain 11 extends across the back as shown in Fig. 2 so that a continuous encircling member is provided suspended at the back by members 10 and at the front by rings 12 and 13 journaled in suitable apertures in the sections 2 and 3. The device may be used for carrying heavy weights of any kind and is especially desirable for carrying mail bags which may be supported by the straps 8 or by the hooks 1 L connected to the bags and hooked over the chain 11 under the arms. In some instances both hook and strap may be used as shown in Fig. 2. The arrangement of yoke 1 as shown distributes the strain of the bags 9 over the shoulders and part of the back whereby the bags may be more easily carried though weighing an appreciable amount.

Instead of providing extra members 6 and 7 secured to the yoke 1 stops may be provided as shown in Fig. 4 by pressing up various sections 15. Preferably these sections are turned over somewhat at 16 so as to prevent any accidental injury to the hand when placing a strap or other member thereover. One or more of these members may be used on each section of the yoke without departing from the invention. In forming the yoke 1 the same may be made from metal or any desired material and if desired reinforced, though. ordinarily the sheet metal bent to the form shown in the drawing is sufliciently strong to properly distribute the strain to the shoulders and back of the per- Son using the device. In the drawing a bag has been shown connected under each arm, but if desired one bag could be supported, or a large number and all of the weight supported by the yoke, whereby the strain is distributed substantially evenly over the shoulders and part of the back.

What I claim is:

1. A weight supporting harness for a person comprising a yoke member, upstanding stops arranged near each end of said yoke member for holding a strap in position on the yoke member when the device is in, use. a'circling flexible member connected at a plurality of points to said yoke at the front and rear, said flexible member fastened beneath the arms when in use whereby an article may be hooked to said flexible member beneath the arms and supported thereby in addition to being supported by a strap ensliding off the yoke, and a flexible member 10 gaging the yoke and one of said stops. connected to the front of the yoke and rear,

2. In a Weight supporting harness for persaid flexible member extending beneath the sons of the character described the combinaarms of the person Wearing the yoke whereby tion of a bag having a hook thereon and a the hook on said bag may be hooked on supporting strap, of a yoke for fittingv said flexible members beneath the arm and 15 against'the shoulders of a person, upstanding the Weightthereof suppported by the shoulmembers arranged on said yoke for engagders. ing said strap and preventing the same from ROBERT ORR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for'fivecents each, by addre'ssing the" Gommi's si-oner of Patents,

' Washington, D.- 02" 

